Boyd Updates Echelon Status

Boyd Gaming company CEO Keith Smith gave an update on the stalled Echelon Place project during the company's first quarter 2011 earnings conference call question and answer session on Tuesday, May 3rd.

Smith confirmed that nothing will be done on the project anytime soon, and said that Boyd would consider selling some or all of the land if presented the right opportunity:

"With respect to the Echelon development on the Strip, we continue to, kind of, I guess keep it as an option and assess our future. We are not taking any specific actions right now. We're, obviously, continuing to watch the market and try and determine when the best time to move forward on that asset may be. It's clearly not today. It's clearly not this year. It's probably not next year. As we kind of look into the future of the Strip and we look into the future of consumer demand and when it hits a point that you could add another project of that caliber. So if we had an opportunity to sell some of the land, we just sit on 88 acres, would we entertain it? Sure. That opportunity hasn't presented itself. We clearly have long-term confidence in Las Vegas, in Las Vegas Strip. We look forward to having an asset on the Strip at some point in our future as a company. We think, strategically, that's important for us. And still have that as a longer-term focus as we look to the growth of our company."

Source: Q1 2011 Boyd Gaming Corp Earnings Conference Call.
Transcript courtesy of Seeking Alpha.

Construction Starts on Harmon Corner Walgreens

Ground has been broken on the three story retail complex on the corner of Harmon Ave. next to Planet Hollywood. Walgreens will be the main store on the property, but it will also feature a few restaurants and several other shops.

The key feature of the project will be a large, Times Square style video board that will light up the Strip. This should look good alongside Planet Hollywood, which also features similar video boards as part of its facade.

One of the companies involved with the project has posted this video on YouTube, which includes a rendering of what the final product will look like. The rendering includes logos for Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonald's and Orange County Choppers, but Walgreens is that only store the has been officially announced.

Steve Wynn's Royal Wedding

Las Vegas had its own Royal Wedding this weekend, as Steve Wynn married Andrea Hissom.

The wedding was reportedly star studded. Clint Eastwood was the best man. Garth Brooks and Lionel Ritchie performed. Other heavy hitters expected to attend the event included Donald Trump, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Milken, Sol Kerzner, Brett Ratner, Celine Dion, Naomi Campbell and Hugh Jackman.

Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom were engaged back in December.